How the brain creates ideas
Find out where original ideas come from and under what conditions we are most creative
Our brains are one of the most complex structures in the universe. They can generate an infinite number of ideas and original concepts, thanks to our unique property - creativity. How do our brains generate ideas?
Research shows that the brain works in complex and unpredictable ways. Ideas arise from the interaction of different areas of our brain, such as the prefrontal cortex, which is associated with planning and decision-making, and the so-called reward areas, responsible for feeling pleasure and motivation. Generating ideas and creativity is a complex process that requires not only the cooperation of many areas of our brain, but also proper external stimulation.
Relax to think more creatively
It has been proven that ideas arise when the brain is in a focused and relaxed state, such as during meditation. During meditation, the brain goes into a state we call "alpha," which is conducive to creativity and the generation of new ideas. It is also easier to achieve the "associative thinking", which allows you to combine two or more unrelated ideas into new original concepts.
Note down your random ideas
The brain can also generate ideas as a result of spontaneous thoughts that occur in our minds during everyday activities, such as brushing our teeth or taking a shower. Our mind is then relaxed, which allows it to freely "wander" in the space of thought and, as a result, to reach concepts that would be difficult to induce in a targeted way. It's a good idea to have a notebook with you to jot down these free-form ideas, as they can easily turn into concrete solutions to problems we haven't been able to deal with before.
The increase in creativity in various states of relaxation and pleasant focused state, called the "flow" effect, has been confirmed by numerous studies. For the brain to be able to generate ideas, we need rest and relaxation, which is why it is so important to introduce rest phases after cycles of intense thinking.
Experiment
Because the brain creates new ideas in many different ways, creativity requires different states of consciousness, such as focus, meditation, relaxation, and spontaneity. Therefore, if you want to generate more ideas, it is worth experimenting and looking for the best ways that will work for you and your brain.